Keenan Allen May Have Just Improved The Odds Of Bears Keeping Him

Keenan Allen will undoubtedly be a great addition to the Chicago Bears offense this coming season. If he resembles the player he's been for the past ten years, the trade to get him will have been worth it. Unfortunately, it might be a temporary arrangement. The six-time Pro Bowler is a free agent next year. While Allen has insisted he would like to stay in Chicago, he won't do it for cheap. Plenty of signs have indicated he seeks a significant payday for his next contract, which could complicate things for the Bears.

Word has persisted they hope to extend D.J. Moore as well. He was outstanding in 2023 and is four years younger than Allen. Locking him up makes sense, even if they control him for two more years. Allen hasn't played a down in Chicago yet, and he's turning 32 years old. GM Ryan Poles wants to see how he does this season before deciding anything. Well, the wide receiver may have made things more interesting. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Allen is changing agents. He will be represented by Klutch Sports moving forward.

The Bears are familiar with this new Keenan Allen representation.

Klutch Sports also represented defensive tackle Gervon Dexter, their 2nd round pick from last year. They also have Alex Leatherwood as a client, who spent 2022 with the team. Poles has negotiated with the agency's primary runners, Zeke Sandhu and Damarius Bilbo, before. Perhaps that makes communication a little easier from their point of view. They will know what to expect if and when negotiations pick up. Much of this depends on what Allen is looking for. Is he committed to finding a team he finish his career with, is he hunting for a Super Bowl, or is he trying to maximize his money?

History with Klutch clients suggests they may seek opportunities to win. Two other prominent names they represent include Danielle Hunter and Odell Beckham Jr. Hunter recently signed a short two-year deal with the up-and-coming Houston Texans. Beckham has been jumping from contender to contender for the past three years. The Bears' chances of retaining Keenan Allen may come down to how they perform this season. If they can put together a playoff run, it might convince him to stay at a more affordable price.